Sales Opportunities Meetup (June 2016)

Description

Business networking is an effective low-cost marketing method for developing sales opportunities and contacts, based on referrals and introductions - either face-to-face at meetings and gatherings, or by other contact methods such as phone, email, and increasingly social and business networking websites.

Develop relationships.

Networking is not about selling, but rather developing relationships that can lead to sales or referrals. The idea is to get to know people and allow them to get to know you.

Often, people approach networking with the hope of making a sale or getting a client after one visit to an appropriate group. That’s not how it works. People do business with those they know and trust and it can take time to build up that knowledge and trust. So approach a networking event without any expectation of getting new business. Instead go with the idea of meeting new people or schmooze with those you've already gotten to know.

Business networking is a way for you to make the maxim, "It's not what you know, it's who you know.." work for you.

Here are ten of the most important principles for effective business networking. These tips apply broadly to any sort of business networking - face-to-face, organized events, business social networking websites, etc:

Ten essential principles

1. Elevator speech. Describe yourself concisely and impressively.

2. Be different. Differentiate yourself. Aim high. Be best at something.